Range



p ,1934. WQLIND MANN m 1,972 628 RANGE Filed Jan. 23, 19:52 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w NVFINTOR s v ATTORNEY p 193.4. w. c. LfNDEMANN ET AL 1,972,623

RANGE Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 heets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Weill-ac. C. I

" ZATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATE NT OFFICE RANGE Walter C. Lindemann and Gustav C. Lorenz, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to A. J. Lindemann & Hoverson Company, Milwaukee, Wis.', a corporation of Wisconsin.

Application January 23', 1932, Serial No. 588,266

Claims. (Cl. 126-87) The present improvements relate, in general, to cooking ranges and more particularly to an improved type of movable'closure for open top 0 sure or cover having an improved mounting, and

a backwall which will nothamper or obstruct movement of the cover. A further object is to 'provide an improved hinge, and limiting means which will facilitate forward and backward movement of the cover.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification "and drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a range embodying one form of the present improvements;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary side elevation, with parts. broken away, showing a form of the improvements;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation, with parts broken away, showing the same form of the improvements;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the cover partially withdrawn from horizontal position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the cover fully withdrawn;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the burner box compartment with the cover detached and removed, only one burner being shown.

Referring to the'drawings, the range 10 comprises the oven 11, drawer 12 and burner box. or compartment 13 having the burners 14 which.

may be operated by handles 15 disposed along the front of the range. The burner compartment is provided with a cover or closure 16 which conceals the burners and is substantially fiushwith the top of the range. A countersunk ledge 17 (Fig. 6) extending along the inner open top of the compartment is engaged by a portion of the cover, which may be supported thereon. An additional ledge 17a supports the usual grids (not shown).

The compartment is defined by side walls 18 and 19 while the rear wall 20 of the range, providing the rear wall ofthe compartment, may extend upwardly to. terminate in an upper wall portion or guard 21. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the guard 21 is preferably offset close to the rear wall.

slightly as seen in Figs.2, 4 and 5, although those familiar in the art may extend it upright, flush and in line with rear wall 20, if desired, without departing from the improvements.

The upright guard or wall portion 21 may be in either position, so long as means are provided for permitting free passage of the closure 16 to the rear of the range. In the present embodiment a slot 22 through guard 21 and the rear wall 20 is provided so that the cover 16, may pass therethrough. It will be seen upon reference to the drawings, thatthe slot 22 is horizontally disposed in line with the cover 16, so that the latter may be conveniently drawn therethrough in either direction. When the cover is in horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 1, the handle 23 may be grasped and the forward end raised whence the entire cover may be shifted rearwardly through the slot 22 in the rear.

Various means may be provided for guiding and limiting the movement of cover 16 in its travel to and fro. For example, a slot and pin construction may be supplied. However, the illustrated arrangement serves these preferred purposes and at thesame time permits the cover to be moved with unusual ease. The 'cover 16 is pivotally connected to the rear of the range by means of a double hinge arrangement. This is provided by a bail 24 having spaced arms 25, one of which is omitted for convenience in illustration. The ends of arms 25 are pivotally connected to the closure 16 at 26, while the body portion of the bail is pivotally connected to the rear wall 20 of the range, as at 2'7.

With the foregoing hinge connection, the cover 16 may be guided and limited in its movements. Upon grasping the handle 23 and raising the forward end, the center of gravity of the cover is moved toward the rear of the range, so that the weight of the cover itself causes it to move rearwardly through slot 22. This transpires with little effort on the part of the operator. The cover accordingly approaches a position similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, whereupon the rear of the cover continues to descend, being drawn inwardly toward the rear wall 20, until it assumes approximately the position seen in Fig. 5.

It is seen that this movement comprises a combined arcuate or pivotal travel as well as a bodily translation or sliding of the closure. During the first half of this cover opening movement, the rear edge is directed away from the range, whereupon in the concluding travel it is brought in In this position (Fig. 5), the arms 25, cover 16 and guard 21 are in parallel,

fixed position while the cover is moving. Furthermore, upon reference to Fig. 5, it will be apparent that guard 21 serves as a stop or limiting means, whereby the cover 16 is held in upright position. It therefore serves as an obstacle for preventing further rearward movement of cover 16, beyond that shown in Fig. 5. Movement of the closure from full open position, as shown in Fig. 5, to closed position, is accomplished with littleeffort. Theoperator need only grasp the outer free portionor handle 23 (Fig. and pull forwardly. This causes the cover to be iulcrumed at the rear corner 28 of the range, and at a point below the center of the cover, whereupon the preponderant weight of over half of the cover plus the pull exerted, overbalancesthe resistance or drag offered by the lower portion of the cover, with the result that it is very easily'brought to closed position (Fig. 1).

It is notable that the present improvements require a minimum clearance at the rear of the range since the cover and hinge arrangement can function within the space between the range and kitchen wall. Instead of using a. bail 24, arms of some other character may be employed, if desired. Likewise, the arms may be made longer or shorter, depending upon the clearance available. In using a bail of the character illustrated, which swings in an 180 arc, a more eili- ,within the scope of the improvements, may occient and economical guide means for the cover is provided. I

It is apparent that the bail 24 may be mounted with the free ends of the arms 25 pivotally attached to the rear of the range, and with the horizontal connecting member of the bail attached -to cover 16, so that the bail would be reversed from the illustrated position. Furthermore, the bail 24 may be extended to form a complete loop, if desired. In any of these forms, as well as in that illustrated in Fig. 2, it is apparent that the rear edge of the closure 16 receives vertical support directly from the bail, so that its arms 25 really serve as legs when in positions such as Figs. 2 and 5. The'bail arrangement is likewise beneficial as a reinforcement to prevent buckling of the cover, and twisting strains, since all parts move in unison.

With opening movement of the cover, it is apparent upon initial raising of the front end by handle 23, that bail 24, 25, will support the cover free of the compartment top (see Fig. 2), whereupon rearward movement of the cover andbail is, at once, begun.

The improvements, as embodied herein, afford a very-economical arrangement and present a neat and attractive appearance. Low manufacturing and assembling costs make the illustrated form preferable for commercial production.

A marked advantage in this type of construction, as well as that set forth in the aforementioned copending application, resides in the fact that no concern or vigilance need be exercised over supporting the cover in partial or full open position. No latches, springs or arm members are necessary to keep the cover up and open. Mere movement of the cover in opening direction It is notable that the guard always remains in complish the broad idea of the invention withedge oi said closure downwardly through said assures the operator that the cover will stay open, since it descends behind the range, .and its own weight tends to a ryand urge it in opeadirection. Accordinglmno latch or equivalent device need belatched or unlatched in .the opening or closing .movement. The present structure-'may therefore be operated with one hand with full confidence and assurance that the cover will not fall unexpectedly.

, :A safety device is provided in the form of spring operated arm 30 which serves to operate a fuel supply valve (not shown). This controls the fue1 to burners 14, which cannot be lighted until cover 16 engages and pushes arm 30 from the positionof Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, whereby thevalve isopened. When thrcover is moved in closing direction, the spring'valve closes on the fuel supply, so that there is no possibility of having the cover in the position of Fig. 1, while fuel is issuing from the burners. This arrangement is described and claimed more in detail in the copending application of Lindemann and Schmidt, Serial No. 522,226, filed March 13, 1931.

Where a guard, such as 21 is mounted independently of the cover, it is preferable to embody the present improvements in the manner illustrated. However, the entire guard 21 or half of it, may be mounted'independently of the cover in such a way so that it will descend behind the range in response to opening movement of the cover and will ascend to its customary location upon closing of the cover. A pivotal or slidable mounting might therefore be provided for the guard, so as to aflord free passage of cover 16 to the rear. Such an arrangement would acout the necessity of the slotted back wall.

The foregoing, as well as other modifications We claim: I

1. In a cooking range, a burner compartment, a back wall for said range having an upright portion fixed above and along the rear of said compartment, said wall having a horizontal opening extending along the rear of the compartment anddisposed substantially flush with the top of the range, a horizontally disposed closure for said compartment having its rear edge adjacent said opening, and means for. directing the rear edge 01' said closure downwardly through said opening upon movement of said closure from horizontal to vertical position.

2. In a cooking range, a burner compartment. aback wall for said range having an upright portion fixed above and along the rear of said compartment, said wall having a horizontal opening extending along the rear of the compartment and disposed substantially flush with the top of the range, a horizontally disposed closure for said compartment having its rear edge adjacent said opening, and an arm pivoted to said closure and to said range for directing the rear;

opening upon movement of said closure from horizontal to vertical position.

3. In a cooking range, a burner compartment, a back wall for said range having an upright portion fixed above and along the rear of said compartment, said wall having a horizontal edge adjacent said op'ening,'means for directing the rear edge of said closure downwardly through said opening upon movement of said closure from horizontal to vertical position whereby the under face of said closure, when vertically disposed, is toward the burner compartment-and means for arresting downward travel of said rear edge portion, with the forward portion of the closure projecting upright .to provide a back guard at the rear of said compartment,

4., In a cooking range, a burner compartment, 2. back wall for said range having an upright portion fixed above and along the rear of said com partment, said wall having a horizontal opening extending along the rear of the compartment and disposedsubstantially flush with the top of the range, a horizontally disposed closure for said.

compartment having its rear edge adjacent said opening, means for disposing said closure partly behind said range and partly above the level oi! the compartment comprising a member for directing the rear edge of said closure downwardly through said opening upon movement of said closure from horizontal to vertical position and means for holding the closure in vertical position with a portion thereof above the compartment level.

5. In a cooking range, a burner compartment, a back guard disposed along the rear of said compartment and spaced therefrom so as to afiord an opening beneath said guard thereby afiording access to the back of the range, a horizontally disposed rigid closure for said compartment having its rear edge disposed substantially in line with said opening, and means for directing the rear edge of said closure downwardly through said opening to the rear of the range upon movement of said closure from horizontal to vertical position.

6. In a cooking range, a burner compartment,

a back guard mounted along the upper rear edge of said compartment and offset rearwardly'therefrom so'as to afford an opening beneath the guard and to the rear 01 the range, a horizontally and from closed position through said slot.

wall for said range having an upright portion fixed above-the rear of said compartment said wallhaving a horizontal slot substantially flush with the top of the range, double hinge means connecting the range and closure at spaced points whereby a portion of said closure may be moved through said slotted wall.

8. In a cooking range, an open top compartment having a countersunkinner periphery, a closure for said compartment having a portion adapted to engage in said countersunk top, a back guard having aslot, disposed across the rear of said compartment, said closure being movable to 9. In a, cooking range, a plurality of upright walls, a horizontal top surface defining the top of the range, a removable cover for part of the top of the range, a fixed backguard extending along the rear of said compartment and having a slotpart way across to accommodate said cover, a fixed pivot on one or the upright walls beneath said slot, said pivot being spaced below the top or the range, an arm pivotally mounted on said pivot and extendingat least to the upper edge of the upright wall, the upper end of said arm being pivotally attached to said cover through said slot, said arm being free to rock about its pivots whereby said cover, when in full open position, is suspended in said slot by said arm.,

10. A cooking range having side and rear vertical walls defining an open top burner compart ment, a removable cover for said compartment, a v fixed backguard extending along the rear of said compartment and having a slot along the top or the compartment to accommodate said cover, an arm pivotally mounted to the rear wall at a point below the slot and compartment top, said arm extending upwardly substantially parallel with said rear wall, a pivotal connection between the upper end of said arm and the rear portion 01' said cover and movable through said slot, said arm being free to swing about its rear wall pivot from upright vertical position parallel to said rear wall to a downwardly directed vertical position parallel to said rear wall, said cover being rigid whereby the rear portion is carried downwardly through said slot where it isv suspended by said arm in vertical position substantially parallel to said rear wall and arm.

- WALTER C. LINDEMANN. m GUSTAV C. LORENZ.

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